Pneumatic-despatch system.



R. G. COLLINS, JR. PNEUMATIC DESPATGH SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 29, 1913 1,102,323, Patented July 7, 1914.

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THE NORRIS PETER S C0 PHOTD-LITHQ, WASHINGTON, D. C.

R. G. COLLINS, JR.

PNEUMATIC DESPATGH SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 29, 1913.

1,102,323, Patented July 7, 1914.

THE NORRIS PETERS CO PHOTO-LITHO.. WASHINGTON. D C.

Patented July 7, 1914.

R. G. COLLINS, JR. PNEUMATIC DESPATOH SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 20, 1913. 1,102,323.

THE NORRIS PETERS CO. PHOTO-LITHO. WASHINGTON. D. C.

RODERICK G. COLLINS, JR., OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PNEUMATIC-DESPATCH SYSTEM.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Ronnmcn G. Connrns, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Pneumatic- Despatch Systems, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in pneumatic despatch apparatus, and has for its object to provide an arrangement by which the carriers may be sent through a tube with greater frequency than is possible in previous systems.

The invention has also for its object a novel arrangement and con'ibination of parts to facilitate despatching carriers in both directions through a tube.

The invention has also for its object to simplify the construction and control of pneumatic despatch apparatus.

With these objects in view the lnvention consists in the features hereinafter described and claimed, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the preferred embodiment thereof, and in which 2- Figure 1 is a plan View, illustrating one terminal of a duplex apparatus, omitting circuits. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the terminal of one side of the duplex arrangement shown in Fig. 1, and which may be utilized in itself for despatching carriers in both directions through the associated tube. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of that which is shown in Fig. 2, omitting circuits. Fig. a is a longitudinal horizontal sectional view of the parts illustrated in Fig. 2, omitting circuits. Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional View on the line a-b of Fig. 4:. Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line c-(l of Fig. 1. 1* ig. 7 is a sectional View on the line cf of Fig. 1.

In the said drawings the reference numeral l designates a tube stretching between terminals 2, one only of whichis shown in the drawing, another, of similar character, existing at the opposite termination of the tube 1. In the further description of the in vention the terminal 9. shown in the drawings will first be referred to as a receiving terminal, and then as a despatching terminal. The tube, at the terminahis fashioned into two-branch-termina]-tubes, 3 and 1,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 29, 1913.

Patented July 7 1914.

Serial No. 757,523.

each constituting a continuation of said tube. Said terminal branches communicate with and discharge the carriers onto one or another of a plural member receivingtable, 3, P, which table-members when the apparatus is of duplex organization lead to the corresponding branches 3 and 4" of the terminal 2 of the tube 1. When duplex the terminal 2 may be considered a receiving terminal, and that 2 a despatching terminal of the apparatus. The advantage of the plural-member termination of the tube 1 and the associated plural-membcr table as thus far described, is that the carriers may be received, handled, and despatched with greater rapidity, in a practical way, than heretofore for example, assumin as is often the case, that after a carrier has been delivered at the terminal of the tube 1, about ten seconds time is essential for an operative to open up the carrier, remove the contents thereof, and pass it on to a (so-employee to be loaded for return despatch, and an equal lime for the latter to load, close and despatch the carrier. Hence it is apparent that for continuous receipt and despatch of carriers, the latter should not be sent through the tube 1 at intervals of less than ten seconds, unless there be provision, as in ac eordance with this invention, for a pluralbranch tube-terminal and associated pluralmember receiving-table. \Vith such provision, however, the carriers may be sent through the tube 1 at intervals of say five seconds if provision be made for sending the same alternately through the two branches of the terminal, and thus alternately onto the members of the pluralmember receiving-table To enable this mode of operation to be accomplished I have provided the following novel arrangement: At the juncture of the tube. 1 and )luralbranch continuations thereof is a pivoted combined-switch-andair-gate 5, the free edge of which points toward the tubular conduit 1, and is operable to open either terminal-branch for the reception of a carrier from the tube 1, and,

coincidently, close the other. The said combined-switch-aiulgate moves in what may be conveniently termed a branch box 6, the walls of which that coope ate with the longitudinal edges of the combined-switch-andthe tube 1, and preferably in the manner and by the means shown, in which a walking,

beam 7 is carried by the pivot of the gate, exteriorly of the branch-box, and has operative connection at its opposite ends with the cores 8 of solenoids 9, such operative connection being, preferably, as shown, a pin and slot connection 10, which will admit of oscillatory movement of the walking beam, and rectilinear movement of the solenoid cores. The solenoid-fields are in circuit, for example, as shown, with a suitable source of electricity, shown conventionally as a dynamo l1, and included in the circuit of each solenoid is an electrical make-andbreak switch 12 (see Fig. Combined with. each switch is a le er 13, disposed in the path. of travel of and to be actuated by the carriers as they pass through the branch tube terminals after having passed the combined switch-and-gate, so that, assuming a carrier has passed into the right hand terminal tube l, (Fig. contact of the carrier with the switch-lever establishes the circuit of the appropriate solenoid, and, through its core, the walking beam is oscillated, and the combined switch and gate thrown to its opposite position, opening the branch tube 3 to receive the next following carrier, which, in its turn, operating upon the switchlever appropriated to that branch, moves the combined switch-andgate to again establish communication between the branch 4 and the tube 1 for the reception of the next following carrier; and so on throughout the operation of receiving carriers, which go alternately into the twobranches of the terminal. Near the exit end of each terminal-branch of the tube 1 is a rotarv valve 3 and l, which are normally closed so that the carriers, actin as pistons, come to air-cushion-rest in the tubular branches without shock. Taking one carrier C for illustration, at just about the time it comes to restv in branch 3 (as in Fig. 4) the car operates the switch lever 18 to cause the shifting of the combined air-gate-andswitch, as hereinbefore described, and, at the same time, the ass e ated solenoid let (which is in circuit with the switch 13, and a suitable source of electricity) is energized, causing movement of its core 15; and to this core is connected a crank-arm 17 carried by a journal of said valve. This means operates to open the valve to permit passage of the carrier onto the appropriate member of the plural-member table. 1 he ejection of the car may be conveniently accomplished by a blast of air entering the branch tube shown in Fig. 2 in which a valve 20 in the blast-conduit has connection 21 with the crank 17 of valve 3, and is opened and closed synchronously with the latter. As

the carrier emerges from the branch-tube it engages and operates a switch lever 22 to break the circuit 12 through the medium of connection 12 to close a circuit that includes the solenoid 16 whereby said solenoid is energized, and, operating upon the core 15, closes the valve through the medium of the crank arm, (and the air-blast at 18 is simultaneously cut off) so that the said valve is in operative position to permit the described operation with respect to a subsequent carrier. Before another car goes into branch 3, however, the carrier next following that just referred to will pass into the other branch terminal tube 4?, and the operation hereinbefore set forth be repeated in that tube, including the shifting of the com bined switch-and-air-gate, so that the next subsequent carrier will, in its turn, pass into the branch-tube 3..

lVhen the apparatus is constituted as a duplex system, such as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawing, the carriers pass alternately onto the members of the plurahmember table, where, in small space, ample opportunity is offered to workmen to open up the carriers, remove the contents, reload and send the carriers out through the terminal 2, it being understood that when so organized one side of the apparatus will likely be continuously used as a receiving terminal, and the other as a despatching station; In despatching, and this will be clearly understood upon reference to the Fig. 4t of the drawing which' has been used in illustration oft-he operation of receiving carriers, it is essential that the valves 3 and t of the branclrtubes 3 and P be opened to admit the passage of the carriers, and, preferably, and as organized, this is accomplished by manual operation of a switch-lever 2? (shown diagrammatically in the drawings and which in practice will be located, one for each branch, in any convenient place for manipulation by a workman) which energizes the coil I l associated with the hereinbcfore mentioned core 15 to establish elec tricalcircuit (independent of that made by the switches 22) through said coil, energize it, and cause said core, through the medium of the crank arm, to open said valve so that a carrier may enter the branch-tube, and

then underthe influence of suction from' the opposite (not shown) station, be drawn through the branch tube into and through the appropriate transmitting tube to the said opposite station. In its transit through the said tube the electrical connections remain undisturbed, since the switch levers 13 and 22 are moved in a direction which does not establish either of the electrical circuits. In despatching, the several successive carriers may, if desired, be sent through the same branch tube into the transmitting tube, but if conditions require that the carriers be sent alternately through the members of both branches illustrated, that may be accomplished, each branch is provided with duplicate mechanism; and to enable this mode of operation to be carried out provision is made for manual shifting of the combined switch-and-air-gate. As shown this arrangement consists of a rod 24: connected with the walking beam 7 and having a handle 25 pivoted at its end to a bracket 26 supported conveniently at the end of the tube, so that the position of the combined air-gatc-and-switch may be controlled at the will of the operator, to permit sending of the carriers through the branch-tubes alternately, or, at will, have the successive carriers pass through but one branch tube. The switch levers 23 are arranged to also establish circuits through the coils 16 associated with the cores 15, and when energized either of the coils influence its core to close, through the medium of the crank arm, the valve 3 or 4, after the sending operation through either of the branches 3 or flis finished, and thus the valves in said branches are ready to perform their part as elements of a receiving terminal. The circuits through coils 16 established by switch levers 23 are, of course, independent of those established by the carriers acting on the switches 18.

As hereinbefore stated, where the apparatus is not organized as a duplex system, one side of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1 (to wit, that shown in Figs. 2 and 1) may be used as both a receiving and sending ter' minal, as will be obvious from the foregoing description.

The apparatus is adapted for use as a suction apparatus, or as a blast apparatus.

The reference numeral 27 (Fig. 2) designates a conduit which places the fan 28 in communication with the tube 1. When the system is organized as a blast system the terminal shown in Fig. 2 will, of course, be a sending terminal, and the conduit 27 will be in communication with the blast side of the fan so as to drive the carriers through the tube 1 by blast. When the system is organized as a suction system the terminal shown in Fig. 1 must be considered as a receiving terminal, and the conduit 27 as in communication with the suction side of the power fan, so as by suction to draw the carrier from the sending to this receiving station. My invention has nothing to do with the details of this alternative organization, and the same is mentioned only incidentally to make it appear that the matter of my invention may be embodied in either a suction or blast organization. When operated by suction the momentum of the carrier by the time it reaches the point of communication of the conduit 27 with the tube 1 will no doubt be suiiicient to carry the car past the air gate, and operate the trip to close the gate behind it. When operated upon the blast plan the air gate will be moved to close the branch which is to receive the carrier, and the carrier will be manually pushed into such branch tube past the valve 3 or 4L, and predominant compressed air from a suitable source, shown conventionally at 29, may be introduced at 31 behind the car to propel it until it is taken care of by the blast from the fan 28, and, of course, the operator will shift the gate 5 to permit passage of the carrier into the transmitting tube 1.

The construction and arrangement of parts, mode of operation, and advantages thereof are sufficiently set forth in the foregoing description to be obvious to those skilled in the art.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is 1. A pneumatic-despatch apparatus, comprising a transmitting tube provided at its terminal with plural-me1nbcr terminalbranches, at plural-1nember table communieating with said branches, and automatic means in the path of movement of the carriers for directing said carriers alternately into said terminal branches.

2. A pneumatic despatch apparatus comprising a transmitting-tube provided at its terminal with plural-member terminalbranches, a plural-member table communicating with said branches, a switch located at the juncture of said tube and branches, and means located in the path of movement of the carriers for operating said switch to direct said carriers into said terminal branches alternately.

3. A pneumatic dcspatch apparatus comprising a transmitting-tube provided at its terminal with plural-member terminalbranches, at 1)l1ll11l-1116111l)01' table communicating with said branches, a combinedswitch-and-air-gate located at the juncture of the transmitting-tube and its terminal branches, and means, part of which are arranged in the path of travel of carriers through said branches and connected to said combined-switch-andgate, to automatically shift the position of the latter to alternately open and close communication of said terminal branches with the transmitting-tube.

4:- A pneumatic-despatch apparatus comarisin a transmittin tube arovided atiits terminals With plural-nnember terminalbranches, a plural-member receiving-table communicating with said branches, a combined-sWitchsand-airrgate located "at the juncture of theztransmitting tube and the terminal branches, trips arranged in the path .of travel of carriers through said branches, :LtIlCl means associated With said trips and combined-swvitch-an'drgate to antomatically shift the latter to alternately open and close communication of said terminal branches with the transmitting tube.

5. A pneumatic despatch apparatus comprising atransmittin tubeprovided at its terminal with plurali-member terminalbranches, a plural-member 'recei-vingetable communicating with said b11LI1Cl18S,*L blower, a connection therefrom to the'transmitting tube for transporting .the carriers through said transmitting tube,.trips arrangediin the path of travel of the carriersthrough said branches, a combined-switch.-an'dsair-gate located at the juncture of the transmitting tube'and the terminal-branches andintermediate said pneumatictransporting means and trips, and means associated With-said trips and combined-sWitch-and-air-gate to automatically shift the latter to alternately open and close communication of .said terminal-branches With the transmitting tube.

6. A pneumatic-despatch apparatus comprising a transmitting tube having a )lu1?almember terminal, the branches of Which are adapted to be placed in communicationWith saidtransmitting tube, a pivoted combinedsWitch-and-a-ir-gate located at the juncture of said tube and its branchesand adapted to open and close communication-of said branches with said transmitting tube, trips located in. the path of travel of carriers through said terminal-branches, and-.means associated With said trips and saidcombilled-switchand-gate for shifting the position of the latter.

7. A pneumatic-despatch apparatus comprising a transmitting tube provided at its terminal with plural-member terminalbranches, a combined-switch-and-airegate located at the juncture of said :tube and branches and adapted to be shifted'to place either of said branches in communication With the transmitting tube, trips arranged in the path of travel of carriers through said branches, normally closed valves in said branches, and-means cooperatively associated with said trips, combined-switchand-gate'and valve-whereby said switchand-gate is automatically shifted to close either branch-terminal after the passage of a carrier thereinto, and thevalve in such branch is opened to permit passage .of the carrier out of the terminal-branch,

:8. A pneumatic-despatch apparatus comprising a transmittingtube provided at its terminal with plural-member terminal- .branches, la Icombined-switch-andair-gate located at the juncture of said tube and branches and adapted to be shifted to; place either of said :branches in communication with the c transmitting tube, trips arranged inthe path of travel of carriers=through said branches, normally closed valves in said'branches, .means cooperatively associated #Wltll said 1 trips, combined-sWitchandgate a and valve whereby said switch-andgate is=automatically shifted to close either brancheterminalafter the passage of a carrier thereinto, and the valve in such branch is openedtolpermit the passage of the carrierout of the terminal-branch, and means connectedi to and operable from said valves for admitting an air blast for ejecting a carrier from the branch-tubes.

9. In a pneumatic-despatch apparatus comprising a :transmitting tube provided at /its terminal avvith plural-member terminal-branches, a combined-switchand-air gate located at the junctureof said tube and branches and adapted to be shifted to place either ofsaid branches in communieationwith the transmitting tube, trips arranged in the path of travel of carriers through said branches, normally closed valves in said branches, means cooperatively associatedwith said trips, combined-switchandsgate and vvalve whereby said switchand-gate is automatically shifted to close either branch-terminal after the passage of a carrierthereinto, and'the valve in such branch is opened toipermit thepassage of the carrier out of "the terminal-branch, means connected to and operable from said valves for admitting :an. air blast for ejecting a carrier from either branch-tube, trips atthe exitrendof the terminal-branches in the path of movement of the carriers therefrom, and-means: associatedwith said trips and said:terminalsbranch-valves for closing the latter.

10. Apneumatic-despatch apparatus comprising a transmitting tube provided witi a :pluralbranch-terminal, a plural-member table communicating with said branches, a combined-switchand-air-gate at the juncture of said tube and branches, means actuated'by thepassage 1 of a carrier through either of said branches for shifting the position of sa i-d sWitch-and-gate, and auxiliary means connected to said gate and operable at Will for'shifting the position thereof.

'11. Apneuma tic-despatch apparatus comprising a transmitting. tube having a pluralmember terminal, the branches of which are adapted tobeplaced in communication with said transmitting tube, a pivoted combinedswitch and-air-gate located at the juncturevof said'tube and its branches and adapted to open and close communication In testimony whereof I have hereunto of said branches with said transmitting set my hand in presence of two subscribing tube, trips located in the path of travel 01 Witnesses.

carriers through said terminal-branches, and RODERICK G. COLLINS, JR.

' electrically operated means actuated by said Vitnesses:

CHARLES H. BURTON,

trips to shift the position of said combined- ARTHUR L. BRYANT.

switch-anchgate.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of ratents, Washington, I). G. 

